wild melody

thank a veteran and or a soldier today. seriously. doesn't matter where you stand politically. doesn't matter what your opinions are on this war or wars in general.  the guys and girls who've come back from living hell deserve a measure of respect and gratitude.

i was pretty depressed this morning. discouraged about the direction of politics, of life, of the american and world current atmosphere. what is God up too? im wondering if i'm going to see strange things in my lifetime or if its just part of the cycle of ups n downs that have continued throughout all of history. but. God is the one who holds the nations in His hands, He sets authorities in power. He has a long-term, worldwide plan of redemption that will display HiS glory and culminate in the return of the Warrior-King Christ. He is always working towards that goal. He is my hope. My peace, my assurance. so. because of all the ^above^ i am *determined* to enjoy today. its not shallow, its okay to wrestle with God in the morning & then choose to delight in little everyday things. or maybe it is, i don't care. life. is. still. beautiful... *hooray for front porches on second-story apartments--treetops rising above the buildings in front of me are right at eye level; alo...

"By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag to April's breeze unfurled, Here once the embattled farmers stood And fired the shot heard round the world. The foe long since in silence slept; Alike the conqueror silent sleeps; And Time the ruined bridge has swept Down the dark stream which seaward creeps. On this green bank, by this soft stream, We set today a votive made of stone; That memory may their deed redeem, When, like our sires, our sons are gone. Spirit, that made those heroes dare To die, and leave their children free, Bid Time and Nature gently spare The shaft we raise to them and thee." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Concord Hymn" I'm not a huge poetry fan and even less an Emerson fan. But Veteran's Day was a good time to share one of the few that I do like. Even if it's technically honoring veterans from the Revolution. (i guess sometimes i do cave into the "obligatory holiday posts"...)

Th e obligatory 4th of July post: I love Independance Day. When I was a kid, we hung out with mum's fam for our cousin's birthday. It meant watermelon-seed-spitting contests, swimming, water gun fights, lots of food, and fireworks on Indian River. Now every July 4 is different. But I still love it. I like an exscuse to be "cheesily patriotic" and remember how flippin' sweet our history is. Despite my current frustration with politics...we began well in 1776. Our country really was founded on Judeo-Christian values. {like it or not. if i were my brother, i'd say "if you don't like it, leave already" but i don't have his guts...} Here's an excerpt from our Declaration of Independance. {i left out the "facts" because it was so long but you can find them here .) " When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the...

random photos from thansgiving at mum's parents with her sister and fam. be warned, there's nothing artistic. the kid table grandpa, bre & nate grandma with her "scarf" florida weather hungry {crazy} sisters n goofing off, joe, bre, mum the original thanksgiving folks grandpa's mug. (see, it's in the genes) lots of hilarious quotes from this game:"that's unfair! i'm a boy, how am i going to know how to draw mascara!? redraw!" i love my fam. they're hilarious. i was especially grateful for: 1. grandpa's "new leg" . he was free from his wheelchair and able to walk this year. 2. grandma's willingness to have the whole noisy crew over, and cook; depsite having chemo wednesday. i'm so blessed: 3 sets of grandparents. 2 parents. 3 siblings. godly friends in fl, tx, va, nc, new orleans, canada, and wales. God is good.

{the 1st photo isn't spectacular, but it's one of the most wonderful pieces of paper ever written. the 2nd is kids playing soccer on the mall in DC. --captain obvious.} O say, can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hail'd at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watch'd, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there. O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream: 'T...

some random things I'm thankful for: Jesus the gospel getting off work early God's word music my fam cold weather the beks (+ my whole 2nd fam) yummy food cousins als canadians coffee good books sharpies seasons emma (job #1) michaela, alyssa, chloe, olivia (job #2) the lindseys driving down to hang with us dell and corning and last but not least...for God's sovereignty... and for new chemo treatments being effective. seriously, we have so much to thank God for. sometimes i think we forget how incredibly blessed we are. because we don't live in places like cuba or the streets of orlando; we look at all the things we can't or don't have. Rather than the wealth of blessings God has poured out on us. The fact that we can walk into a store like Publix and even have choices is mind-blowing to our brothers and sisters in some countries. i should live in a constant state of gratefulness--surely God's work on the cross is more than enough reason! have a good {am...

Independance Day. I never was too patriotic. That was before a course in school I expected to be boring & pointless. (government). I was mostly right. Yet it wasn't just government blah; but how the US government came about; why; etc. Historical stuff that should've been boring but wasn't. Reading it made me realize that being an American isn't something to be ashamed of. In fact, I totally saw the hand of God in our history. (not to say it's limited to ours. we just have the best. *joke*) The constitution is pretty dang good. So now I'm patriotic. Technically, "my kingdom is in heaven..." to {mis}quote Wayne Brooks. There's my late Independance day post... This year several fams got together. Good food made by moms, fried chicken, waverunners, tons of kids/few adults ratio, football...yeah. It was like the good old times. >>>& Here is where I somehow deleted all the uploaded photos. and it says i need a new post? oddness. i feel ...

today is the american thanksgiving holiday. i'm waiting for my parents to get ready and then we'll go up to apopka to my dad's mom& stepdad's house. (they're the wyoming relatives but they come down here nov.-april). So happy thanksgiving ya'll... w hat's thanksgiving like in canada? just curious...like why do you even have one? no pilgrims...how can you be thankful? down here we eat alot of food, watch football, play football, track dirt in the house, get together with all of your relatives and have a blast talking too loud and laughing at eachother. And if you're Christians, then hopefully you take some time to thank God for the blessings He's given you, and maybe thank some people. This year I'm thankful for alot of friendships didn't have last year: like the Sczebels and Cairneys in Canada, the Cornfields in Corning, New York; and others I've met here in Fl. outishness...